Begonia plant named ‘KRBEVRE01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘KRBEVRE01’ characterized by its relatively compact, broadly upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; moderately freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; double-type male flowers that are red in color and held above and beyond the foliar plane; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia x hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KRBEVRE01’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Koppe Royalty B.V. of Putten, The Netherlands on Nov. 3, 2020, application number 2020/2760. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia x hiemahs, commercially referred to as an Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KRBEVRE01’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Begonia plants with excellent postproduction longevity and attractive flower color.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in February, 2016 of a proprietary selection of Begonia x tuberhybrida identified as code number KV13K1903-013, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia socotrana identified as code number S00, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands in January, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands since March, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KRBEVRE01’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KRBEVRE01’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, broadly upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Moderately freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Double-type male flowers that are red in color and held above         and beyond the foliar plane.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have smaller leaves than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have red-colored flowers whereas         plants of the female parent selection have orange-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have red-colored flowers whereas         plants of the male parent selection have purplish pink-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia x hiemalis ‘KRBEVCH01’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,440. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Ermelo, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘KRBEVCH01’ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Begonia are more red and not as purplish red as flowers of plants of ‘KRBEVCH01’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KRBEVRE01’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) are close up views of the upper (right) and lower (left) surfaces of typical leaves and flowers of ‘KRBEVRE01’, and in the center of the photograph is a close-up view of a typical flower bud.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the early summer in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Ermelo, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Begonia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C. Plants were eleven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia x hiemalis ‘KRBEVRE01’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia x             tuberhybrida identified as code number KV13K1903-013, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             socotrana identified as code number S00, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About five weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to orangish             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density; plants of             the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit and form.—Relatively compact, broadly upright             and mounded plant habit; overall plant shape, obovate.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate; suitable for 9-cm and larger containers; under             optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually about             nine weeks from rooted cuttings are required to produce             proportional plants in 13-cm containers.         -   Branching habit.—Moderately freely branching with about four             primary branches each with about three secondary branches             developing per plant.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 25.9             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 29             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 36.7 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9.6 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm             to 9 mm. Internode length: About 2.9 cm. Strength:             Moderately strong. Aspect: Erect to about 50° from vertical.             Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy.             Color, developing and fully developed: Close to 146B.             Lenticels: None observed on plants of the new Begonia to             date.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About             13.3 cm. Width: About 10.6 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Oblique, lobes free and not imbricate. Margin:             Serrate to dentate; slightly to moderately undulate. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Mostly smooth, glabrous with             sparse pubescence along the veins; velvety; glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Mostly smooth, glabrous with             sparse pubescence along the veins; velvety; glossy. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:             Close to a blend of 137A and NN137A; narrow edges, close to             183D. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 148B;             narrow edges, close to 183D. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Darker than a blend of 139A and 147A; venation,             close to 143A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 191A; venation, close to 146B. Petioles: Length: About             5.2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength: Low, flexible.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to a             blend of 152A and 199A; distally, strongly tinged with close             to 185A. Color, lower surface: Close to 152B. Stipules:             Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules at the base of             each leaf. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape:             Broadly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin:             Ciliate. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A;             margins, close to 182D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Fully double-type male             rotate flowers arranged in axillary cymes; to date, female             flower development has not been observed on plants of the             new Begonia; typically about five flowers per cyme, numerous             cymes in flower simultaneously and about 320 flowers             developing per plant; flowers face upright to outwardly and             are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             the spring into the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 14.6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: Ranging from             about 0.8 cm to 2.2 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to roughly             circular, flattened. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; matte. Color: Close to 45C; towards the margins,             close to 45A and towards the base, close to 45D.         -   Male flowers.—Diameter: About 5.5 cm by 6.1 cm. Depth: About             2.8 cm. Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: About four             arranged in two whorls. Length, inner whorl tepals: About             2.7 cm. Length, outer whorl tepals: About 3.6 cm. Width,             inner whorl tepals: About 2.9 cm. Width, outer whorl tepals:             About 3.8 cm. Shape: Roughly orbicular to reniform. Apex:             Mostly rounded. Base, inner whorl tepals: Cuneate. Base,             outer whorl tepals: Truncate. Margin: Entire, not undulate.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; not rugose; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; not rugose;             matte. Color, inner whorl tepals: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 45B. When opening, lower surface: Close to             45B; towards the base, close to 43A. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 45B; towards the base, close to 44B;             venation, close to 45B; color does not change with             subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 42A; towards the base, close to 45D; venation, close to             46A; color does not change with subsequent development.             Color, outer whorl tepals: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 45B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 45B;             towards the base, close to 43A. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 45B; towards the base, close to 43A; venation,             close to 45B; color does not change with subsequent             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 42A;             venation, close to 46A; color does not change with             subsequent development. Tepaloids: Quantity and arrangement             per flower: Variable, about 55 per flower arranged in about             five whorls. Length: About 0.9 cm to 1.3 cm. Width: About             0.8 cm to 1.1 cm. Shape: Obovate to broadly oblong or             orbicular. Apex: Praemorse to obtuse. Base: Broadly acute.             Margin: Entire to irregularly crenate; not undulate. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; not rugose; matte. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 17C; towards the margins, close to 28B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 17C. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 21A strongly flushed and mottled             with close to 30A, 30B and 45B; venation, similar to lamina             color; color does not change with subsequent development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 24A strongly flushed             and mottled with close to 24B, 24C, 30D, 43A, 44A and 44B;             venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change             with subsequent development.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two positioned at             the top of the peduncle. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About             2 cm. Shape: Reniform. Apex: Obtuse to broadly and shallowly             praemorse. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Ciliate. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately velvety; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to 46A, 180A and 185A flushed and marbled with close             to 145A and 146C to 146D. Color, lower surface: Close to             180A, 181A and 185A flushed and marbled with close to 146C             to 146D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.9 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45° from lateral             branch axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color: Close to 152B; distally, tinged             with close to 175A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to N34D and N170A.         -   Reproductive organs.—To date, stamen and pistil development             have not been observed on plants of the new Begonia.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and     pests common to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of     the new Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘KRBEVRE01’ as illustrated and described. 